Nigel's Blog
Hi, I'm Nigel the Chief Executive of Retail Trust.
The coming year will be a time of growth and change for Retail Trust. The charity will be working more closely than ever with organisations in the retail sector as we cement ourselves as the charity committed to the well-being of employees in the retail industry.
Part of working more closely with the industry is communication. Technology allows me to communicate with you through this blog – spelling mistakes and all! So please feel free to email me on the Contact page with feedback, ideas, or just to swap stories about our blogs. Enjoy!
You can read my biography on our Trustees and Chief Executive page.
Nigel J L Rothband
Chief Executive
Read Nigel's Blog
20 July 2010 : New Trustees To Join Retail Trust Board
I am delighted that we have been able to recruit three new outstanding trustees to join the Retail Trust Board.
All three will be inducted over the next couple of months and attend their first Board meeting in September.
Our new treasurer will be Richard Newman, Ayo Daramola-Martin will join the Board with marketing experience and Katherine Payne comes with a wealth of experience in the area of social welfare and care. Photos, and career details will be posted onto the website once they have joined the Board in September.
16 July 2010 : Derby Development Phase Two
It is easy to forget what amazing properties we own.
Today at our retirement estate in Derby, for example, we offer living with a choice of sheltered cottages or extra care apartments, which are suitable for single people or couples.
Our sheltered and extra care accommodation both offer on site support staff seven days a week and a 24 hour emergency call system.
Services for our residents include:-
Restaurant
Community Hall
Library
On site shop
Computer suite
Activity room
Laundry
Mini bus
Healthcare room
Hairdresser
Following today's meeting with our architects and other professionals I hope we can start work on phase two of this amazing development next month.
I'll keep you posted.
Have a great weekend.
14 July 2010 : Suits You
I was delighted to welcome Keith Evans, CEO of BRC trading, to Mill Hill this morning.
Despite Keith being a retailer for for the past 100 years he has never been to Mill Hill before and was most impressed - that's what he said to me anyway!
We discussed a number of initiatives that will lead to an improved collaboration between our two organisations.
Well done to the team at Retail Week who set up a live link to this afternoon's M&S AGM - great fun. On the day that M&S confirmed their annual donation to the only charity looking after the needs of all 3 million employees of the retail industry.
Thanks to Stuart and Marc.
Do they wear M&S suits on any other day or just at the AGM?
13 July 2010 : Pets Music and Jewellery!
As someone who doesn't like domestic pets, has no interest in music and wears no jewellery I was amused to receive an envelope today from Loise Hoffman, the editor of "Pet Gazette", "Jewellery Focus" and "Music Trade Gazette". All part of Mulberry Publications Ltd. Inside was a copy of the latest issue of each publication each carrying a double page spread on Retail Trust under the title "In Retail We Trust".
The interview took place some months ago, the last question I was asked: What are your hopes for the future of the sector?
My answer:
That retailers continue to demonstrate innovation and adaptability so that they grow and prosper, with redundancies kept to a minimum; that retailers increasingly recognise the importance of their employees and introduce initiatives that recognise their value and worth; and finally, an increased awareness of Retail Trust across the sector, with additional revenue streams to enable us to expand and increase our services across retail.
Enough said!
12 July 2010 : YouTube Champions
Retail Trust Search For A Star is back and the team are doing a fantastic job in promoting it to the three million staff out there in the retail industry.
Click here to see the brand new YouTube video that they have produced. It was the most viewed Non-Profit video today on YouTube.
05 July 2010 : Retail Trust Search For A Star Is Back!
I am delighted that we are running the fantastic competition Retail Trust Search For A Star again this year.
Building on the huge triumph of last years competition, the charity is looking for the next hottest singing star in retail with its nationwide competition.
Retail Trust ‘Search for a Star’ competition acts as an exciting way of raising funds whilst at the same time making sure the spirits of the industry that has been effected by the tough economic climate continue to be raised at all levels.
Last year’s winner, Nicola Cassells from Ayr in Scotland, has gone on to do great things including meeting top music execs, performing at high profile retail events including Heathrow Terminal 5 and even singing in an Oxford St window to busy crowds. However, winning isn’t everything as runner-up Leanne Robinson from London has also been spotted by the very best from the music industry, had a profile piece on her published in a wide range of media and is currently in America performing and showcasing her incredible talent.
Kicking off its second year, all budding singers that work in the industry need to apply online at http://www.retailtrustsearchforastar.com/ before 10 September 2010 with an image and a YouTube clip of a performance*. The winner of the competition will bag themselves the money can’t buy prize of a meeting with top music industry figure heads at Mercury Music Group, record their very own single courtesy of Imagesound, get the VIP treatment staying at Grosvenor House and much more!
Retail Trust will whittle down the applicants and invite them to perform in front of an esteemed panel of judges at one of their many national roadshows at Hilton Hotels across the country starting at the end of September. The judges confirmed so far include talent agent Mark Cowan, top music executive Joe Kentish and Retail Trust’s very own Anahid Basmajian. The panel then have the challenging task of deciding the TOP 50 that will then go on to showcase their talent at an un-missable event happening in London on 30 October at Hammerson’s Brent Cross Shopping Centre and hosted by GMTV’s Mark Heyes.
Last year’s winner Nicola Cassells said: “Winning Retail Trust Search for a Star has been such an amazing experience for me! It’s opened up so many doors and gave me the confidence to pursue my dream. I’m all booked up with gigs for the rest of the year. It’s fantastic!” As the retail industry’s very own charity, support from its leaders for this competition is second to none:
Sir Philip Green, owner of Arcadia Group said: “It's great to see that Retail Trust Search for a Star is again this year encouraging people to demonstrate their passions and talents, whilst supporting our industry charity, and I look forward to another tightly fought contest.”
Rob Anderson, CEO at Signet said: “We were delighted when Nicola brought the title home for Signet! We are very proud of her success and know she is destined for a bright future. This is a great competition which energises everyone in the industry. If you think you have a singing voice I’d urge you to enter – it could be you this year”
Sir Stuart Rose, Executive Chairman at M&S said: “Retail Trust is the un-sung hero of our industry considering the vast amount of work they do and this is a fantastic way to sing the charity’s praises for all the hardwork they do. Not only does Retail Trust Search for a Star celebrate talent, it also raises important funds to looking after everyone who works in our sector.”
John King, CEO at House of Fraser said: “At the beginning of the year we had the privilege of hosting an event for the four finalists of 2009/2010 at our Oxford St shop window and the excitement and talent was incredible! Everyone at House of Fraser is looking forward to the talent that emerges from this year and hope that we can find a winner in our midst!”
Despite the fun side of this contest, it is critical to know about the various services that Retail Trust offers to anyone who has ever worked in the retail industry.Calls to the free, confidential and independent Helpline on 0808 801 0808 has increased by 57% this year and offers access to hardship grants, legal and debt advice, help with redundancy, bursaries for career development, an employee assistance programme, and retirement housing throughout the UK amongst other services. The support of everyone in the industry is never more important to make sure this ‘safety net’ the charity provides is robust and broad reaching.
If you'd like to know more about what Retail Trust does you can watch this.
01 July 2010 : Long Day........................at Wimbledon
This is how yesterday went...............
7.00 a.m. Pop into the office to pick up papers and check emails.
7.20 a.m. Travel to London.
8.30 a.m. Property Committee meeting
9.30 a.m. Nominations & Governance Committee meeting
11.00 a.m. Board meeting
2.00 p.m. Five back to back interviews for potential Trustees
6.30 National Skills Academy for Retail Celebration Event - Waldorf Hotel
9.30 p.m. Home
9.40 p.m My wife comes home
9.42 p.m. onwards....................Make tea and look after wife as she has been at Centre Court Wimbledon all day and is "tired"
30 June 2010 : Golden Oldies
I am delighted that Retail Trust's old friend Rowland Gee has decided that his new venture, Grey 4 Gold, will donate 10% of its proceeds to us!
Grey 4 Gold is a new FREE Recruitment Search Service that connects highly experienced and seasoned retail professionals with growing companies.
Grey4Gold introduces independent non-executive directors, part time managers and full time interim managers to companies of all sizes to help independents and SMEs to expand and thrive, giving seasoned managers an opportunity to put back the wealth of their experience to help growing and emerging businesses to achieve their business ambitions and to reach their strategic goals.
A non-executive director or an interim or part time manager from Grey4Gold will become part of the business and its ethos (even for a short time), in a way an appointee from a management consultancy can never be. Grey4Gold brings together young and mature people to produce results.
I was very sorry to hear of the passing of our dear friend Nick Samuel who died after a short illness.
Nick was charming, entertaining and a great supporter of Retail Trust. He ran marathons for us and raised thousands of pounds.
He appeared in the last "Art of Retail " book and when asked, if you were shipwrecked on a desert island what book would you take with you? He said " Survival on a dessert Island for Dummies".
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
29 June 2010 : Barmy Evening
After a round of interviews to find new Trustees for the charity it was straight off to the Sanctum Hotel in London's West End for an Evening with Nigel Rothband.
A huge thank you to Vicki Day and her team at the London Fashion Network and for all those who braved the barmy temperature to travel into the West End.
We sat and chatted for a couple of hours and it was a really enjoyable evening.
If it means that a few dozen more people gain a better understanding of what we do then it's a good night.
24 June 2010 : Inspirational Derby
It is always difficult to pick on individuals in this job. What is intended to be a huge compliment to one person is often taken as one having favourites or even worse some people see it as an opportunity to remind you of all the other people who have done great things that you have never mentioned!
Here goes anyway!
Today in Derby I had a wonderful meeting with our Chairman of the Residents Committee. Cecil is 93 years old and is slightly frustrated by the fact he is finding things more difficult these days. He still drives himself around in his new car and we discussed what car he will get next time - but that "won't be for another 10 years".
We discussed a whole series of issues from the development of the estate, the visit next week from our Mill Hill residents to the level of service charges.
Cecil is an inspiration and it was a privilage to spend time with him today.
One of the recent improvements to the estate in Derby is the replacement of all the front and back doors to the cottages. It just so happened that the last one was fitted today and I helped out removing the old frame. Photos were taken that I am sure will appear somewhere on the website soon.
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